177mph

Attempting the oil change for the first time. I've now broken one oil filter wrench and one oil filter socket. The dealer who put on the larger oil filter must have put it on with a welder. It wont budge. Now I've dented it - and I dont want to risk leaving it on to drive it to a mechanic that way. Crap!!!
Hand tight my ***!!

paradisenb

Bummer. Good luck, Rich.

Curt911

Not to be funny, but, are you turning it the right way? What type of filter wrench were you using?

A Photo perhaps??? ( to see what ype of wrench may work at this point ) Maybe we can help!

kkim

Rich,

With all that room with the large filter, you should be able to get a strap type wrench on that filter to loosen it. Hate to tell you, but that's the easy one... wait till you get to the engine filter.

As asked... lefty loosy, righty tighty.

177mph

Yep - I'm turing it the right way (lefty loosie!). The original wrench that I broke was one of those aluminum - one size fits all - wrenches. Snapped off the handle. Then I went out and bought a "proper" rachet type (the kind they show in "how to change your oil" on the p-car website.) I was pushing so hard on the rachet - that I broke the weld between the 3/8ths drive part and the socket.
Now I have a strap type on there - but I've only succeeded in denting the filter on three sides. After searching the threads - I took the rachet type and drilled holes in it - to screw it to the 3/8ths drive part. Then I superglued that (no welder). Snapped those screws off in 10 seconds flat!!
I seriously think this sucker is welded on! The bad thing is - I have tp leave for business in two days and I have to get the car to the DE inspection Tuesday night. I'm screwed. I REALLY dont want to put a screwdriver thru it. Any other ideas? Flatbed to the dealer???

Curt911

Flatbedding it to a shop might be your best best to get it done on time. What brand rachet where you using?

kkim

Try the strap wrench again but try grabbing it as close as you can to the base of the filter, if that's possible.

177mph

The rachet is an S & K. The oil change socket (they call it a cup type filter wrench) is from "AmPro". It has a lifetime warrantee - which works out to 25 minutes in my case.

cooz

tap lightly with hammer or punch or something around top edge of oil filter near where it seals to mount and then try using strong leather belt wrapped aroung filter for added torque.

solsrch

I wouldn't stick the screwdriver through, it will probably just tear the metal as you turn. As the slowest DIY'er on RL (partially my fault, but A LOT of severly overtightened stuff!! to think I paid to have some of this work done ) I had this problem too. Even tore up my oil filter wrench. I used the strap one and just kept turning. The filter got ugly but it came off. Heck, if you are thinking of flat bedding, why not just go for it. The dealer can cut it off and fix it even if you tear the whole filter apart. The way I see it you've got very little to lose. BTW, I bought a snap on three point wrench now and, obviously, tried not to over tighten anything. We'll see what happens next time.

177mph

Thanks to all! I took all your advice and added some liquid wrench as well. I tapped and turned and made one ugly filter - but it's off. The strap did the job. Lost a little skin in the process. Now on to the "tough" one. Thanks to everyone. Rennlist is like having all your car buddies ready to help. Thanks again!!

Leland Pate

post a ic of the mangled filter!
Glad to hear you got it off.
Lee

solsrch

FWIW, I wound up using the strap version on the small filter as well. Tighter quarters so I had to sort of "preload" it but as mentioned, I had already destroyed my other filter wrench. Good luck!

177mph

I got the smaller filter off with the strap like you mentioned. It wasnt on as tight as the large filter (phew!!). I had to do a bit of jerry rigging to get it. I'll try and post a pic of my set-up tomorrow!! Basically it was the strap wrench, a pry bar, and an 11mm wrench. Who knew!?!?

I just made the next classic mistake of taking off the wrong drain plug (I'm batting 1000). I took off the oil pressure relief valve first - then found the drain plug. I'm going to put the oil in next. God only knows where I'll go wrong next!

chris walrod

Your almost there! Start with 8 quarts, warm her up until the thermostat opens and add oil a half-quart at a time until mid-stick.. You'll be good to go